A Design Structure Matrix Based Method for Reconfigurability Measurement of Distributed Manufacturing Systems

摘要

In recent years, a large number of approaches to developing distributed manufacturing systems has been proposed. One of the principle reasons for these developments has been to enhance the reconfigurability of a manufacturing system; allowing it to readily adapt to changes over time. However, to date reconfigurability assessment has been limited, and hence the efficacy of the design approaches remains inconclusive. Recently, the ?Design Structure Matrix? has been proposed as a tool for assessing the modularity of elements of a distributed manufacturing system and thereby providing an indirect indication of ?reconfiguration ease?[16]. Additionally, an approach for its application has been proposed[14]. This paper develops this approach further into a systematic method for the reconfigurability measurement of manufacturing systems and illustrates its application on a robot assembly cell designed on distributed manufacturing system principles. This is achieved in three distinct phases: 1.) definition of system boundary 2.)decomposition of system functionality & components 3.)identification of component interfaces.